Dinosaur genus
Iguanodon
Iguanodon is a dinosaur genus known from bones, found in rocks 154.8–100.5 million years old, in 8 countries, most often the United Kingdom and Spain.
medium
medium: Only Wikidata gives this; nothing contradicts it.Confidence labels are switched off. Facts with low confidence, or where sources disagree, still carry a small dot: tap it for the reason.
At a glance
Data as of 12 October 2026- Named by
- Mantell 1825
high
high: PBDB and Wikidata agree.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Described in
- G. A. Mantell (1825). Notice on the Iguanodon, a newly discovered fossil reptile, from the sandstone of Tilgate Forest, in Sussex. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London 115: 179–186.
high
high: PBDB gives this publication for the name; its author and year match the naming authority (Mantell 1825), on which PBDB and Wikidata agree.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. The publication the Paleobiology Database gives as the authority for this genus name, usually the one that first named and described it.
- Lived
- Kimmeridgian to Maastrichtian, 154.8–66 million years ago
disputed
low: Sources disagree and an editor has not ruled yet.Omnisaura calculation154.8–100.5 million years ago, from its dated fossil recordsmedium
medium: Omnisaura's calculation from 109 confirmed PBDB records.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Fossils found in
- GermanyUnited Kingdom
high
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Francehigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Portugalmedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (4 records).Spainmedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (4 records).Belgiummedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (35 records).Chinalow
low: Only one PBDB record.Tunisialow
low: Only one PBDB record.disputed
low: NHM records it here but PBDB has no record in this country; awaiting an editor.mixed
mixed: Levels differ between entries; each has its own.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database; Natural History Museum Data Portal. How it was chosen: Union of all sources (ISO 3166).
- Rock formations
- 29, including Weald Clay Formation, Arcillas de Morella, Wessex Formation and Tunbridge Wells Sand Formation
mixed
mixed: Levels differ between entries; each has its own.Show all 29, each with its confidence
Ashdown FormationTunbridge Wells Sand Formationhigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Vectis Formationhigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Wadhurst Clay Formationhigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Weald Clay Formationhigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Wessex Formationhigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Arcillas de Morellahigh
high: NHM and PBDB both record it.Camarillasmedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (12 records).Capas Rojasmedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (8 records).El Colladomedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (2 records).Huértelesmedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (2 records).Papo Secomedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (3 records).Woburn Sandmedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (2 records).Argile Ostréennemedium
medium: Only PBDB records it (2 records).Bückeberglow
low: Only one PBDB record.Calcaires à Spatangueslow
low: Only one PBDB record.Camadas de Almargemlow
low: Only one PBDB record.Gault Formationlow
low: Only one PBDB record.Grès et Sables Piquetésdisputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.Haolinglow
low: Only one PBDB record.Kimmeridge Clay Formationlow
low: Only one PBDB record.Ladeirasdisputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.Oxford Clay Formationlow
low: Only one PBDB record.Pinilla de los Morosdisputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.Sainte-Barbe Clayslow
low: Only one PBDB record.Sandgatelow
low: Only one PBDB record.Tilgate Gritlow
low: Only one PBDB record.Upper Greensand Formationdisputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.West Melbury Marly Chalk Formationdisputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.disputed
low: Only NHM gives this name and it matches no PBDB formation; awaiting an editor.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database; Natural History Museum Data Portal. How it was chosen: Canonical names, automatic and editor-approved matches applied.
- Parent group
- Ankylopollexia
medium
medium: Only PBDB gives this; nothing contradicts it.Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database. How it was chosen: PBDB leads.
- Known from
- Bones
Sources
Given by: Paleobiology Database (what the name was based on).
Gaps are answers
What isn't known yet
- Type species: no source we use gives it yet.
- Order: no source we use gives it yet.
- Family: no source we use gives it yet.
- What it was named after: no source we use gives it yet.
- Held back: 24 fossil records left out: identified only tentatively (for example "cf." or "?").
- Held back: 1 fossil record left out: identified as a related genus rather than this one.
- Held back: 1 fossil record left out: identified only to a broader group, not to this genus.
- Resting on one source: 2 facts come from a single source with nothing against them (rated medium): parent group (PBDB); common names (Wikidata).
Size, diet and behaviour aren't covered yet. Omnisaura leaves them out rather than guess.
Where sources disagree
8 openAge
- 154.8–66 MaPBDB
- 184.2–93.9 MaNHM specimens
The ages of the records reach well beyond the published range. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Formations
- NonePBDB
- Gault FormationNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Formations
- NonePBDB
- Kimmeridge Clay FormationNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Formations
- NonePBDB
- Oxford Clay FormationNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Formations
- NonePBDB
- Tilgate GritNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Formations
- NonePBDB
- Upper Greensand FormationNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Formations
- NonePBDB
- West Melbury Marly Chalk FormationNHM
One source names a formation the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Countries
- BE, CN, DE, ES, FR, GB, PTPBDB
- TunisiaNHM
One source records a country the other does not. An editor hasn't ruled yet, so this is rated low until they do.
Did it meet…?
No. Iguanodon had gone at least 16.9 million years before Tyrannosaurus appears in the fossil record.
Going by the ages and rock formations of their dated fossils, as on the map. Compare their fossil sites on the map.
Lived alongside
Genera found in the same rock formations, from rocks of the same age.
Credits
Where this page comes from
- Paleobiology DatabaseCC BY 4.0 · fossil records, ages, classification
- Natural History Museum Data PortalCC0 1.0 · catalogued specimens
- WikidataCC0 1.0 · names and identifiers
- OmnisauraOmnisaura editorial · confidence levels and gaps
- PaleoMAP PaleoCoastlines (Kocsis and Scotese 2021)CC BY 4.0 · ancient coastlines on the small map
- Natural EarthPublic domain · today's coastlines
Pictures linked from this page are credited beside each one, with their own licences; the full list is in the JSON download.